Acts 2 · Verse 18

Acts 2:18

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Acts 2:18, King James Version

Acts 2:18 in other translations

BSBEven on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
WEBYes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
ASVYea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
YLTand also upon My men-servants, and upon My maid-servants, in those days, I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy;
DARBYyea, even upon my bondmen and upon my bondwomen in those days will I pour out of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
BBEAnd on my men-servants and my women-servants I will send my Spirit, and they will be prophets.
WebsterAnd on my servants, and on my hand-maidens I will, in those days, pour out of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

What does Acts 2:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 2:14-21

Ac 2:14-36. Peter for the First Time, Publicly Preaches Christ. 14-21. Peter, standing up with the eleven--in advance, perhaps, of the rest.

Read the full comment on Acts 2:14-21 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 18. And on my servants. The Hebrew in Joel is, "upon the servants." The Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, however, render it "on my servants." In Joel, the prophet would seem to be enumerating the different conditions and ranks of society. The influences of the Spirit would be confined to no class; they would descend on old and young, and even on servants and handmaids. So the Chaldee Paraphrase understood it. But the Septuagint and Peter evidently understood it in the sense of servants of God; as the worshippers of God are often called servants in the Scriptures. See Rom 1:1. It is possible, however, that the Hebrew intended to refer to the servants of God. It is not "upon your servants," etc., as in the former expression, "your sons," etc.; but the form is changed, "upon servants and handmaids." The language, therefore, will admit the construction of the Septuagint and of Peter; and it was this variation in the Hebrew which suggested, doubtless, the mention of "my servants," etc., instead of your servants.

And on my handmaidens. Female servants. The name is several times given to pious women, Ps 86:16, 116:16, Lk 1:38,48. The meaning of this verse does not materially differ from the former. In the times of the gospel, those who were brought under its influence should be remarkably endowed with ability to declare the will of God.

(b) "and they shall prophesy" Acts 16:4,9,10, 1Cor 12:10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 On my servants and on my handmaidens - This properly means persons of the lowest condition, such as male and female slaves. As the Jews asserted that the spirit of prophecy never rested upon a poor man, these words are quoted to show that, under the Gospel dispensation, neither bond nor free, male nor female, is excluded from sharing in the gifts and graces of the Divine Spirit.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 2:14-21

Peter's sermon shows that he was thoroughly recovered from his fall, and thoroughly restored to the Divine favour; for he who had denied Christ, now boldly confessed him. His account of the miraculous pouring forth of the Spirit, was designed to awaken the hearers to embrace the faith of Christ, and to join themselves to his church. It was the fulfilling the Scripture, and the fruit of Christ's resurrection and…

Read the full comment on Acts 2:14-21 →

Acts 2:18 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καίkaiandG2532
γεgeevenG1065
ἐπὶepiuponG1909
τοὺςtoustheG3588
δούλουςdoulousservantsG1401
μουmouof MineG3165
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐπὶepiuponG1909
τὰςtastheG3588
δούλαςdoulashandmaidensG1401
μουmouof MineG3165
ἐνeninG1722
ταῖςtaistheG3588
ἡμέραιςhēmeraisdaysG2250
ἐκείναιςekeinaisthoseG1565
ἐκχεῶekcheōI will pour outG1632
ἀπὸapoofG575
τοῦtoutheG3588
πνεύματόςpneumatosSpiritG4151
μουmouof MineG3165
καὶkaiandG2532
προφητεύσουσιν.prophēteusousinthey will prophesy.G4395

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 2:18

  • Colossians 3:11

    Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

  • Galatians 3:28

    There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:21-22

    Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.

  • Acts 21:10

    And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
on my servants.
1Co 7:21,22; Ga 3:28; Col 3:11
and they.
17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 2:17

    And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

  • Acts 2:18

    And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

  • Acts 2:19

    And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

Read all of Acts 2

Acts 2:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y de cierto sobre mis siervos y sobre mis siervas en aquellos días derramaré de mi Espíritu, y profetizarán.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et sur mes serviteurs et sur mes servantes, en ces jours-là, je répandrai de mon Esprit, et ils prophétiseront;
German
Elberfelder 1871		und sogar auf meine Knechte und auf meine Mägde werde ich in jenen Tagen von meinem Geiste ausgießen, und sie werden weissagen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et quidem super servos meos, et super ancillas meas, in diebus illis effundam de Spiritu meo, et prophetabunt: